EOIs invited: Senior Co-Chair & Youth-Chairs ALHR Environment and Human Rights Committee

February 27, 2023

Human rights cannot be enjoyed without a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable environmental governance cannot exist without the establishment of and respect for human rights.

Since the launch of ALHR’s national Environment and Human Rights Committee three years ago there has been an ever widening acceptance both within Australia and globally that human rights and the environment are intertwined; so much so that the UNHRC and UNGA have passed historic resolutions recognising a stand alone right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment and the ACT looks set to be the first domestic jurisdiction to recognise such a right within its Human Rights Act.

We now have an opportunity for a Senior Co-Chair to join our incumbent Senior Chair in leading ALHR’s EHR Committee and for two Youth-Chairs to join the Committee. Please read on to find out more.

ALHR’s Environment and Human Rights Subcommittee engages locally, nationally and internationally with a diverse range of stakeholders in order to:

  1. Undertake advocacy to stand up for recognition of the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable environmental governance.
  2. Highlight the need for decisions about the environment to be made from within a human rights framework.
  3. Promote awareness of the growing body of international discourse on human rights and the environment and adherence to the Framework Principles.
  4. Promote awareness of human rights issues raised by environmental issues such as climate change.
  5. In recognition that young people are a key group amongst those most likely to suffer the long term future human rights impacts of climate change and environmental neglect, the subcommittee specifically engages with and offers a voice to children and young people.

Three years ago, ALHR was the first Australian organisation to become a member of the international Global Pact for the Environment which is now supported by hundreds of eminent people, jurists and organisations. The Global Pact is a draft international treaty, which aims to recognise a new generation of fundamental rights and duties related to the protection of the environment, and in particular, the right to a healthy environment. The Pact has been key in support for recent historic UNHRC and UNGA resolutions recognising a stand alone right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. ALHR is also a collaborating parter of the global Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative which works to incorporate child rights into climate action. This work is currently focused on General Comment no.26 At the domestic level the EHR Committee seeks to engage across a wide range of environment and human rights issues and has been closely engaged with the call to amend the ACT Human Rights Act to include the right to a healthy environment, as well as advocacy towards realising the goal of Human Rights Acts in all Australian jurisdictions that recognise and protect the human right to a healthy environment.

Inviting EOI’s for Senior Co-Chair, EHR Committee

ALHR is now seeking expressions of interest from experienced lawyers to join our incumbent Senior Co-Chair leading the EHR Subcommittee.

Co-Chairs will be responsible for leading ALHR’s work in the environment and human rights space at a local, national and international level. The successful applicant will be a lawyer who is passionate about the environment and human rights and has significant knowledge, experience and expertise in the area. The successful applicant will also be committed to ALHR’s inclusive constitutional purpose and the universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature of human rights.

ALHR Co-Chairs will work collaboratively with members of the EHR subcommittee, the Chairs of ALHR’s other thematic subcommittees, State/Territory convenors and ALHR’s governing bodies in order to facilitate research, coordinate submissions and comprehensive advocacy on the environment and human rights. They will undertake advocacy that is consistent with international human rights law principles, and present this to key legal, political and media figures in order to keep the thematic area at the forefront of public discussion.

Co-Chairs will also work with the ALHR national Committee to maintain a strong membership base for the new subcommittee, comprising lawyers, academics and law students, in Australia and beyond, with a keen interest in the thematic area.

ALHR Co-Chairs are supported, guided by and accountable to ALHR’s National Committee and Executive Management Committee.

The successful applicant will need to be a current member of ALHR 

Please see the attached ALHR Co-Chair Position Description for further information about the role.

How to Apply

If you would like to formally nominate for this role, please send an expression of interest and copy of your CV to president@alhr.org.au  

Inviting EOI’s for the role of Youth-Chairs EHR Subcommittee

ALHR is also seeking expressions of interest from young lawyers and law students to act as Youth-Chairs of the EHR Subcommittee.

Young people are a key group amongst those most likely to suffer the long term future human rights impacts of climate change and environmental neglect.

The Youth-Chairs will support the work of the Co-chairs in leading ALHR’s work in the environment and human rights space at a local, national and international level. The successful applicants will be young lawyers or law students who are passionate about the environment and human rights and will ideally have some knowledge, experience or expertise in the area. They will also be committed to ALHR’s inclusive constitutional purpose and the universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature of human rights.

With the support and supervision of the EHR Subcommittee Co-Chairs and the ALHR National Committee, the Youth Co-Chairs will also work to lead environment and human rights advocacy initiatives that are especially relevant to children and young people, including via meeting with stakeholder groups, politicians, engaging in campaign work, contributing to social media communications and acting as a media spokesperson.

ALHR Youth Co-Chairs are supported, guided by and accountable to their Subcommittee Co-Chairs,  ALHR’s National Committee and Executive Management Committee.

The successful applicants will need to be a current member of ALHR 

Please see the attached EHR Youth-Chair position description for further detailed information about the role.

How to Apply

If you would like to formally nominate for this role, please send an expression of interest and copy of your CV to president@alhr.org.au  

Please also feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the role.

These are voluntary positions.